As summer temperatures continue to rise here in Brooklyn and we approach the year’s midway point, the Albumism team has good reason to reflect upon the past six months. For one, our still fledgling site and community of devoted music obsessives were born just a few weeks shy of six months ago, and we are so grateful for the overwhelmingly enthusiastic feedback we’ve received from all of you thus far.
Secondly, in addition to celebrating all of the amazing albums that have experienced anniversary milestones so far this year, we have been absolutely floored by all of the wonderful new long players that have emerged in the first half of 2016. Without the slightest hint of hyperbole, we believe that this year is shaping up to be one of the strongest in recent memory with respect to the quality of new music making its way onto our turntables, into our headphones, and deep within our hearts.
With that, we are thrilled to share our selections for the year’s 15 finest albums thus far, in no particular order. We encourage you to check them out, if you haven’t already, and hope you will let us know if there are any albums we’ve overlooked in compiling this list. So without further ado…
The 15 Finest Albums of 2016 So Far
BRITTA PHILLIPS | Luck or Magic
Double Feature
What We Said: “Luck or Magic makes a damn fine first impression, and it’s the kind of album destined to reveal new treasures and reveries galore upon repeated listens. Contrary to the album’s title, the excellence of Phillips’ debut derives neither from luck nor magic, but rather from her proven penchant for crafting songs that are nothing short of sublime.”
Official Store | Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
LION BABE | Begin
Polydor/Outsiders
What We Said: “Pulling off the ultra-rare feat of infusing leftfield sensibilities to craft universally accessible tunes, Begin is contemporary pop perfection infused with an unapologetically adventurous spirit. In simpler terms, Lion Babe’s debut is an incredible record. Though we’re still in the early days of 2016, the competition for album of the year honors now has an early frontrunner, one that will likely prove tough to eclipse as the year progresses.”
Official Store | Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
JAMES BLAKE | The Colour in Anything
Universal/Polydor
What We Said: “In the album closer ‘Meet You in the Maze,’ the second of two songs co-written by Justin Vernon (of Bon Iver), Blake repeats the mantra “music can’t be everything,” suggesting that love takes precedence above all. We concur. But we’re also convinced that the inspired, modern-day masterpiece The Colour in Anything is essential, life-affirming music that, upon playing it a few times through, we know we can’t live without. Not that we need any further reminding, but Blake’s latest achievement reinforces just how unique and vital of a creative force he is.”
Official Store | Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
CASE/LANG/VEIRS | case/lang/veirs
Anti-
What We Said: “A tutorial in how best to synthesize the respective strengths of multiple creators while elevating their unique charms, Case, Lang and Veirs’ inaugural effort is a contemporary masterpiece of crystalline beauty, unfettered grace, and revelatory depth. Guaranteed to give its listeners incurable goosebumps and spine-tingling chills upon first and repeated listens, case/lang/veirs is simply wonderful.”
Official Store | Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
UNDERWORLD | Barbara Barbara, we face a shining future
Astralwerks
What We Said: “An official band statement refers to the album as “head music to dance to,” an apropos description of this inspired, masterfully constructed record’s essence, which is sure to reveal hidden treasure after hidden treasure upon repeated listens. Throughout the entirety of Barbara Barbara, Underworld sound more invigorated and unencumbered than they have in decades, suggesting that this next phase of their storied career is destined to be a shining one, indeed.”
Official Store | Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
LISSIE | My Wild West
Lionboy
What We Said: “In light of Lissie’s previous work and upon listening to My Wild West over the past few days (on repeat, mind you), we remain baffled as to why she has not morphed into a global superstar. She certainly possesses all the makings of one, with amazing songs to boot. But then upon more focused reflection, My Wild West reminds us that perhaps Lissie doesn’t even covet such rarified status, preferring instead to create songs for the listeners who will discover true meaning, redemption, and solace deep within them. A noble calling, and one that Lissie continues to embody with dignity and passion in no short supply.”
Official Store | Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
CHANCE THE RAPPER | Coloring Book
Self-released
What We Said: “As it turns out, Chance doesn’t even need language to get his message across, much less poetry. “And we back” are the first words he speaks on Coloring Book, but they aren’t actually the first sound he makes. About ten seconds into “All We Got,” we hear one of Chance’s signature vocal bursts (I wouldn’t know how else to describe it, but you’ll know it when you hear it). He almost could have stopped right there. That opening gesture is full of such energy and commitment that it already signals a point made abundantly clear throughout Coloring Book—Chance the Rapper is back, and he isn’t going anywhere.”
ROSIE LOWE | Control
Polydor/Wolf Tone
What We Said: “In our 2016 new music preview back in January, we wrote that Control is ‘unequivocally the debut album we’re looking forward to the most this year.’ Much to our delight, Control not only lives up to our expectations, it transcends them. It’s truly a divine album and surely a harbinger of many more wonderful things to come from the supremely talented, undeniably charming Rosie Lowe.”
Official Store | Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
BAND OF HORSES | Why Are You OK
Interscope
What We Said: “With spring winding down toward its inevitable climax, Why Are You OK promises to be the perfect aural accompaniment to the summer days and evenings ahead, and certainly a fine addition to the ever-evolving Band of Horses canon.”
Official Store | Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
ANDERSON .PAAK | Malibu
Steel Wool/Obe
What We Said: “One of the most refreshingly inventive albums to emerge so far this year is the multi-dimensionally gifted Anderson .Paak’s tough-to-pigeonhole Malibu, which we continue to bump on the regular here at Albumism HQ. Released back in January, a few months after his much-applauded guest vocal contributions on Dr. Dre’s Compton, .Paak’s sophomore album (or his fourth LP, if you count his two 2012 efforts released under his previous moniker, Breezy Lovejoy) Malibu is an unequivocal treat for the ears, heart, mind and soul.”
Låpsley | Long Way Home
XL
What We Said: “Låpsley’s brave debut is a sterling collection of songs substantially more intriguing and gratifying than much of the UK-bred female pop out there today, including the comparatively sterile and overwrought compositions that define her XL labelmate Adele’s latest commercial behemoth of an album. Indeed, Long Way Home is a stellar first formal step toward what seems destined to be a fruitful future ahead for the supremely talented Låpsley.”
Official Store | Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
DAUGHTER | Not to Disappear
4AD/Glassnote
What We Said: “Few bands working today make exorcising one’s demons sound as sublime as Daughter does. It’s refreshing to hear Elena Tonra so eloquently externalize the anguish that so many of us feel deep down inside, but are often too reluctant to divulge. Her introspective ruminations and emotional honesty are reassuring, offering glimmers of hope that solace can indeed be found amidst whatever it is that torments us. Bolstered by her bandmates’ atmospheric, intricately-woven soundscapes, Not To Disappear is a poetically poignant statement from a band that shows no signs of disappearing anytime soon.”
Official Store | Amazon | iTunes | Spotify
RADIOHEAD | A Moon Shaped Pool
XL
What We Said: “Repeated listens during the days and weeks to come will invariably reveal previously overlooked nuances and revelations layered deep within A Moon Shaped Pool’s exquisitely crafted songs. But in the meantime, after spending one week with the album, it’s clear that Radiohead’s ninth LP further cements the band’s unparalleled musical legacy, one that continues to evolve and excite in the most dynamic of ways.”
FANTASTIC NEGRITO | The Last Days of Oakland
Blackball Universe
What We Said: “Introspective, aggressive, and downright inspiring, The Last Days of Oakland is one engrossing statement—an enthralling piece of work that could only derive from its bruised, yet redemptive hero. Perhaps Negrito has established his resolutions while confessing the inner-workings of his own struggle, however, there is one key element of why this is a stunning achievement—it all derives from Negrito’s own authenticity. This is not watered-down, substance-free music tailor-made for easy consumption. This is warrior music that demands your full attention. While the musical approach may not be completely original and varied, its powerful dialect communicates directly and convincingly to the People and our desolate times. It’s the glory of the Blues after all, and we’re all the better for it.”
BONNIE RAITT | Dig In Deep
Redwing
What We Said: “As Raitt releases her seventeenth studio album Dig In Deep, one may reasonably wonder what motivates her to continue making new music, when she has seemingly achieved it all. “I was only interested in doing this if I could continue to grow—find new songs and new combinations of ways to play things,” Raitt explains in a recent Entertainment Weekly interview. “My role models were old R&B and blues artists, Tony Bennett and my dad; artists who’ve gone into their older years growing richer. I’m modeling myself after them. People only get more interesting and deeper as they get older.” Even the most cursory of listens to Dig In Deep, the second album she has released through her own Redwing Records, reveals that the latter statement describes the 66 year-old Raitt to a tee. At 66 years young, the reigning queen of the blues is still more than capable of making music with thrills in abundance.”
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